Release One sees Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams integration to reduce re-keying
Placing Platform Limited (PPL) has launched the first general market release from its new partnership with Microsoft.
The first release introduces a new PPL app that sits within clients’ Microsoft Outlook application and provides access to the range of new products and features due to be rolled out. Accompanying the app’s launch is direct connectivity between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams and the placing platform, which facilitates efficient capture of risk placement data.
The integration of PPL with familiar Microsoft desktop tools creates a new way of connecting to the core placing platform and its expanding set of capabilities. The new PPL app also enables streamlined delivery and quicker accessibility to new product features. Once installed, users benefit from automatic version updates.
Accompanying the new PPL app, clients will also benefit from new connectivity with Microsoft Outlook. This enables key data and documents from emails to be automatically uploaded into a placement record on PPL. The functionality reduces administrative tasks as there is less need to re-key and download documents from one system to another. It also provides a further aid to capturing structured data as early as possible in the placing process – a key factor in the drive to greater digital trading practices.
The launch of these new capabilities follows the announcement last year of PPL’s multi-year collaboration agreement with Microsoft. This collaboration will integrate PPL’s placing platform with Microsoft 365 applications used by brokers and carriers in their usual flow of work. Through the partnership, PPL will also leverage Microsoft’s data and AI capabilities to enhance PPL’s broader proposition.
Since the partnership launch, PPL has worked collaboratively with a core group of leading brokers including Willis, Gallagher and Price Forbes. Running a structured co-creation programme, PPL engaged chief broking officers, COOs and transformation leads as well as core platform users to shape the product roadmap, advise on functionality and complete Beta testing.
Over the coming months PPL will deliver a series of releases that will increase functionality within the app that will focus on driving efficiency, insight and greater digital connectivity between market participants. Early releases will be provided as part of clients’ existing subscription fees.
Tanya Duckworth, Chief Product Officer, Placing Platform Limited, commented:
“The new PPL app integrates with familiar desktop tools that are part of the flow of work and enables our clients to operate with increased efficiency, allowing them to focus on what matters most. This is, however, just release one. We have an ambitious and exciting programme that will accelerate PPL’s transition from its administrative origins to an intuitive and insightful data-driven trading platform.
“We have established a dynamic and highly collaborative relationship with Microsoft that brings skilled engineers and a much quicker development cycle. In line with our collaborative ethos, we established broker and carrier advisory groups to shape the overall roadmap. I’m delighted that once this was set, we have been able to move to our first general market release in a matter of a few months. We expect our advisory clients will be the first to realise benefits from this new functionality, and that the wider market can be confident in the utility and robustness of solutions that we will deliver.”
Christian Sarafidis, General Manager, EMEA Financial Services, Microsoft, commented:
“Placing Platform Limited (PPL) is advancing the effort to transform and empower the insurance industry with efficient and effective processes. Through the integration of their placing platform with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams, PPL clients will benefit with improved operational efficiency and an enhanced placement process. We look forward to our continued collaboration with PPL to optimise business processes with advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, enabling clients to make more informed decisions.”
ENDS
Media contact
Callum Starling | Omnia Partners
Callum.Starling@weareomniapartners.com | 07833 072883